Knicks 86
Hornets 79
NEW ORLEANS – Lots changed last night in the Big Easy, even the color of Allan Houston’s suit.
With Houston still dressed as a banker for the 18th straight time this season, the Knicks did what everyone else in the league has done – routed the depleted Hornets at New Orleans Arena to end a three-game skid, 86-79. The injury-wracked Hornets are 1-16 this season – 0-8 at home.
The Knicks, who led by 24 points in the third quarter, moved to .500 at 9-9 and assured they wouldn’t have a losing record when Houston returns tomorrow in Washington for his looooong-awaited season debut. They held down the fort.
“I think we have,” coach Lenny Wilkens said. “Allan is a big part of what we do. I also think it will take a few games for him. He’s not going to step in there and be the old Allan of three years ago.”
In the continuing Houston soap opera, he declined to suit up last night despite being activated Tuesday from the injured list. Tuesday night in Memphis, he wore a gray suit in the Knicks’ third straight loss when they shot a season-low 34.1 percent. Predictably, they did not need his services last night, as he watched from the bench in a beige suit.
Asked if there was any reason he won’t debut tomorrow night, Houston said, “I don’t believe I’m going to trip and hit my head on anything. I doubt that’s going to happen. Most likely, most likely.”
Houston said he doesn’t even need another practice today to perform. The Knicks will take the day off and brace for a deluge of adjustments.
Last night, there were more patrons in one Bourbon Street jazz club than at the arena to witness the Knicks’ victory. Hornets coach Byron Scott must feel like he’s back in his rookie year at the Swamp.
Despite the woeful competition, Stephon Marbury declared, “We stopped the bleeding.”
Marbury and Jamal Crawford were coming off horrendous offensive and defensive nights in Memphis. They buckled down last night and Marbury hurt the Hornets from the perimeter, scoring 22 points with nine assists. He was 4 of 8 from 3-point range.
Jamal Crawford looked tired in a 2-for-10, 8-point outing, shooting 1 of 6 from the 3-point line. Houston’s return can’t come at a better time as Crawford may be more effective with reduced minutes.
“He’s itching to play, he’s dying to play,” Marbury said of Houston.
The Hornets are one team the Knicks, who statisically have the NBA’s second-worst defense, can lock down. The Hornets shot 34.9 percent but they resemble more of a CBA team now with Baron Davis, Jamaal Magloire and Jamal Mashburn out.
Their starting lineup feature such icons as point guard Alex Garcia (1 of 7) and Matt Freije. The Hornet lineup now is worse than the expansion Bobcats, who beat the Knicks Saturday. But Wilkens said the defensive effort “was a marked difference.”
“We talked more, helped better,” Wilkens said. “I don’t care who the team is, because you have to focus on what we weren’t doing and that was defending.”
Was Houston’s delayed comeback a distraction? “If it’s a distraction, I don’t buy that,” Wilkens said.